Man fears for life after he let Gary Hutch stay at his home

A criminal who allowed gangland murder victim Gary Hutch to stay at his home during secret trips to Dublin, now fears he could be next on the hitlist.

Gary Hutch, a nephew of Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch, regularly returned to Ireland in the months leading up to his death.

The 34-year-old was shot four times as he attempted to flee from a hitman at the quiet Angel de Miraflores complex on Spain's Costa del Sol, near Marbella.

Sources have revealed that an inner city criminal, aged in his late 20s, who let Hutch stay at his address on return visits to Dublin is afraid of becoming the next target of the Kinahan gang, who are being held responsible for last week's murder.

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"Hutch was going back and forth to Ireland on several occasions during the summer. But he knew there was pressure on him so he kept a generally low profile," a source said.

Gary Hutch’s body is removed in a body bag from the scene in Marbella

"Members of the Kinahan gang were attempting to locate Hutch on his returns to Ireland but failed, and the person who was letting Hutch stay at his house is now in fear of his life," the source added. The gang member in question has previous convictions for drug- related and theft offences, and is regarded as a "lower rank" member.

He was also suspected of being involved in the murder of Finglas crime boss Eamon 'The Don' Dunne, but no charges were ever brought.

Christy Kinahan is believed to have sanctioned last Thursday's murder in the belief Hutch had double-crossed him and stole more than €100,000 from the mob.

Members of the victim's family were approached by senior members of the Kinahan gang in the weeks leading up to his killing, demanding that a six-figure sum be paid.

Hutch's murder has also escalated tensions in the capital, with fears that revenge attacks will be carried out by associates close to the dead man.

The killing has led to an increase in armed patrols both in Dublin's north and south inner city.

Hutch's close pal and associate 'Fat' Freddie Thompson is also believed to be a target of the gang.

They both escaped death in 2008 when they were sitting in a BMW X5 that was riddled with bullets in the murder of another trusted enforcer, Paddy Doyle.

The murder of Hutch was the third killing of a senior Kinahan gang member in the space of just 13 months.

Gerard 'Hatchet' Kavanagh (44) was gunned down on the Costa del Sol last year, while his brother Paul (27) was killed six months later in Drumcondra.

It is believed both men fell out of favour with Christy Kinahan after debts the pair were collecting weren't being returned to the gang.